The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-21
Another Pension Grab Proposed.


The new service pension bill, which is to
be introduced into Congress and which is
now being circulated among the Grand
Army Posts for their Endorsement, is not
meeting with much favor from some of the
leadiag Republican journals 1t is an out
rageous bill, and should be strongly con-
demned. If it were to become a law men
who have never been near a battlefield, and
who are in the possession Of health and
wealth, would receive pensions. As much
rs $l50, 0000 900 year would be necessary to
meet its requirements. That amount,
together with the already heavy pension
charges, would make a pension burden
much heavier than the people would will
ingly bear
The South has uttered no protest against
the pensioning of ex-Union soldiers who, on
account of disabilities received in the con-
tl,ct between the States, are unable to earn
a Lying, although her own disabled veterans
have to provide for themselves, but she will
certainly protest against this proposed SER
vice pension bill. No Congressman,
whether from the North or South, will do
his whole duty to his constituents if he adj
vocates or votes for it. The pension charge
now is an immense one, and will be very
much greater when all the applications for
pensions on file under existing laws are dis
posed of
Unfortunately there are more Congress
men who seek popularity than there are
who look out for the good Of the country.
They are all the time trying to cultivate
the soldier VOTE and are ready to make any
sacrifice of principle to gain it. Unless
men are sent to Congress who are not afraid
of this vote the pension charge in a few
years will be greater than all the other ex-
penses of the government combined.
1t is a question whether pensions have
benefited pensioners as class. There are
many no doubt who would suffer for the
actual necessities of life if it We're not for
the help they receive from the government,
but for every one of these there are doubt
less ten who have been made non-producers,
and perhaps worthless idlers, by pension
money. Being sure of enough to
live upon they have ceased to
material condition. 1t is doubtful if the
exUnion soldiers, notwithstanding the hun
dreds of millions of dollars which have
been paid to them by the government, are
as well Off to-day as the ex-Confederate
soldiers. In fact, poverty is more notice
able at the North than at the South among
those who took an active part in the war.
AS soon as the war was ended the necessity
was upon the Southern soldier to go to work
at once to keep himself and those dependent
upon him from starving. Even those who
were suffering from sickness and wounds
made brave effort to earn living. The
consequence was that in few years the
Southern soldier, while not in prosperous
circumstances, was beyond the fear of want,
and was cheerful and hopeful with regard
TO the future.
The Northern soldier, if he were in the
least disabled, found a pension ready for
him as soon as he was discharged from the
army. He leaned at once upon the govern
ment, and has been leaning upon it ever
since. The soldiers who were not provided
for Immediately began petitioning Congress
for help, and they have never ceased to pre-
sent their claims for assistance. The re
suit is that at the North there is
much larger percentage of paupers in pro-
portion to the population than at the South.
That this is to some extent due to the pen
sion policy there is no doubt. And yet, with
this fact so plain that the ex-soldiers cannot
fail to see it, they are about to petition Con-
gross to pass another pension bill that will
give them about $3.50 100000 a year. Con-
gress will make grave mistake if it grants
their petition.